Skinner was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st but is now signed through the 2026-27 season. Skinner set a new career-high and led the Sabres with 40 goals and ranked third on the team with 63 points in 82 games. Skinner spent 70 percent of his 5v5 minutes on the top-line with Jack Eichel and the duo outscored the opposition 53-to-43 (per naturalstattrick.com).
Janmark, 26, took a step back in 2018-19, scoring just six goals with 19 assists (25 points) in 81 games. Janmark is a key penalty killer for the Stars, ranking third among forwards in shorthanded time on ice per game (1:30). During Dallas’ playoff run, Janmark had one goal and two assists (three points) while appearing in seven of their 13 playoff games.
Polak had nine points (1G / 8A) in 77 games this season. Polak led the Stars in penalty minutes (69) and blocked shots (152)—which was good for 17th in the NHL. Polak became a reliable partner for rookie Miro Heiskanen, playing 43.3 percent of his 5v5 ice-time with Heisknanen.
Lipon was selected in the third-round in 2013 but has appeared in just nine career NHL games since. The 25-year-old had 26 points (11G / 15A) in 60 games with Manitoba (AHL) this season and has 166 points (56G / 110A) in 331 career AHL games.
Despite winning in Game 4, the Blues will make on minor change in Game 5. Edmundson will come out of the lineup with Robert Bortuzzo drawing back onto the blueline. Edmundson has recorded seven points (1G / 6A) in 21 playoff games.
Bortuzzo was a healthy scratch in Game 4 with Vince Dunn returning from injury but will replace Joel Edmundson in the lineup on Thursday. Bortuzzo has registered two goals in 15 playoff games.
Griffith has bounced around the NHL quite a bit but has been an excellent point producer in the AHL. Griffith led Manitoba (AHL) in points, scoring 16 goals with 41 assists (57 points) in 69 games last season. The Jets have now inked their two leading AHL scorers from a year ago after also signing Logan Shaw last week.
Grzelcyk has been sidelined by a concussion since Game 2 but is expected to draw back into the Bruins lineup for Game 5. Grzelcyk was on the ice for Wednesday’s practice and Thursday’s optional gameday skate and will likely replace Zdeno Chara (jaw), who is also a game-time decision. Grzelcyk is expected to play on the top-pairing and second power-play unit.
Chara missed Wednesday’s practice but was back on the ice for today’s optional gameday skate. Chara was wearing a regular jersey, which is a good sign for his potential availability for Game 5. Matt Grzelcyk (concussion) is also a game-time decision and would likely replace Chara on the top-pair if Chara can’t play.
After three years in the Red Wings organization, Russo joined the Coyotes last season and spent the entire campaign in Tucson (AHL). The 26-year-old led all Roadrunners defensemen in points with 39 (6G / 33A) in 67 games.
Reunanen was a fourth-round pick (No.98 overall) in 2016 and signed after setting career-highs in goals (6), assists (19) and points (25) in 58 games with Luke Rauma of the Finnish Elite League. The 21-year-old defenseman is one of five Liiga defensemen to record at least 25 points, joining Sami Vatanen, Esa Lindell, Ville Pokka and Sami Niku in that group.
Vehvilainen was selected in the sixth-round (No.173 overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft and went 25-8-5 with a 1.58 GAA and .930 SV% in 38 games with Karpat of the Finnish Elite League. Vehvilainen was named the league’s top goaltender award, won the league championship and was a part of the World Championship Finnish team.
Chara left Game 4 after being hit in the face by a puck and did not return. Chara returned to the bench for the third period but never took a shift. "Obviously his mouth has some blood and I don't know what's going on in there, but he can barely talk and he's out there supporting us," Brandon Carlo told reporters postgame. Luckily for the Bruins captain, the series will have an extra day off before Game 5 on Thursday.
Hayes, 27, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, so the Flyers will need to sign him before July 1st. Hayes spent the first four and a half seasons of his career with the Rangers before being dealt to the Jets at least year’s trade deadline. Hayes finished the 2018-19 campaign with a career-high 55 points (19G / 36A) in 71 games. Hayes helps bolster the Flyers’ centre depth, which has taken a hit since Claude Giroux moved to the wing.
Starrett, 24, finished his first full professional season with Bakersfield (AHL), where he went 27-12-2 with a 2.33 GAA and .918 SV% in 42 games. The American netminder went 3-3 with a 2.89 GAA and .889 SV% in six AHL playoff outings.
Malone, 30, is a veteran AHL presence with 199 career NHL games of experience. Malone did not record a point in 16 games with the Oilers but had 25 points (8G / 17A) in 43 games with Bakersfield (AHL).
Larmi, 22, is an undrafted free-agent netminder, who was 12-6-0 with a 1.72 GAA and .930 SV% in 18 games with HPK Hameenlinna of the Finnish Elite League this season. Larmi also went 12-6 with a 1.72 GAA, .932 SV% and two shutouts in the playoffs to lead HPK to the championship.
Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said that Grzelcyk is “better than he was” but will miss Game 4 in St. Louis. Grzelcyk’s improvement leaves the door open for a potential Game 5 return when the series shifts back to Boston.
Rask allowed two goals on 29 shots in the Bruins 7-2 win over the Blues in Game 3. Rask made some big stops early in the game to allow the Bruins to take an early lead and they poured it on from there. Rask has now won nine of his last 10 playoffs starts while posting a sparkling 1.59 GAA, .949 SV% and two shutouts.
Binnington was pulled for the first time in his NHL career in the Blues Game 3 loss to the Bruins. Binnington allowed five goals on 19 shots before being replaced by Jake Allen. Binnington has been tremendous at bouncing back after a loss in the playoffs, going 5-2 with 1.84 GAA and .947 SV%.
